Commission okays “tire shoot house”

Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:12pm
By: Ben Nelms

It will be a new type of training venue for law enforcement officers. Coweta County commissioners March 17 voted unanimously to approve the construction of a “tire shoot house” that will give officers the ability to move freely while firing in an enclosed training facility at the law enforcement shooting range.

“Most gun battles aren’t stationary,” said Newnan Police Sgt. Mark Cooper as he explained the rationale for the live-fire training that would be offered to police officers and sheriff’s deputies.

Newnan Police collected tires from local businesses to use in the construction of the “shoot house.” The walls of the 52-foot by 50-foot building will be formed by a double row of recycled tires filled with recycled asphalt pavement millings. The partitions are to be constructed using 10-inch diameter utility poles embedded approximately 4 feet into an augured 12-inch diameter hole, said Arco Engineering consultant Chris Wigginton. The tires will be placed around the holes and filled with pavement millings. For safety purposes, the two rows of tires will be staggered to prevent any gaps between the tires and the subsequent escape of bullets. The house will have no roof, plumbing or electricity.

The facility will provide for realistic training, said Newnan Police Buster Meadows, noting the advantage of having officers train on issues such as hostage taking in a real-life structure where they can move about as needed.

Prior to the vote, Commissioner Tim Lassetter questioned the potential noise level, referencing previous noise complaints by some area residents when officers are practicing at the firing range.

Cooper said he believed the sound from discharging firearms would be pushed upward due to the thick-walled construction rather than horizontally.

And just prior to the unanimous vote, Commissioner Randolph Collins said he supported the project.

“It means a lot to law enforcement,” he said.

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Submitted by mysteryman on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 3:12pm.

Why waste money on practice, just send em up to the A.T.L where the music makes you drop to your knees... Pair em up with Red Dog, and put em on foot patrol around A.U center, James P Brawley, Simpson RD, Hollywood but the only stars youll see is them Rock Stars if ya know what i mean. Back to the point the tire wont shoot back to give the proper effect.....PEACE

matt.barnes's picture
Submitted by matt.barnes on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 12:59pm.

Cool! Its too bad they can't open a place like this to the public. I bet the county could make tons of money giving training courses to private citizens. Or even renting it out to other law enforement agencies who don't have facilities like this. Maybe, they could do bachelor parties.


Submitted by Insayn on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 2:58pm.

You'll shoot your eye out kid...

Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 1:09pm.

Perhaps Clayton County can rent-out certain areas for these practices. Smiling
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